Sunday, July 17, 2016

If You Go Into The Woods Today. . .


What a blessing to have these trails just across the street from the mission home.  It is a glorious place for an early morning hike!













These are the Special Times


Sisters Taunima and Simpson with Patty who is prepared to receive the gospel!

Forum in State College
Sisters Ewell, Wadsworth, Elder Van Leeuwen, Sisters Bowden and Wentzel


Elders Nelson and Liston with Tish who was baptized last November and is moving to Colorado


Elders Ord, Nelson and Liston
President and Sister Johnson all wish Tish the very best in her new adventure!


President Johnson with dear Laurie Kay Kemmerer who will be 98 this month!

A visit from a former missionary in the PPM and her Mom - (Sister) McKenzie Duncan!

HAPPY 60th Birthday for President Johnson!



Elder Haroldsen, Elder and Sister Gardner and Sister Casler PPM office staff celebrate with us!

Great Amish hats in Pennsylvania - Elders Boyes and Ross

Former Elder Hyer (Taryn) visiting the mission with his family!

Former Elder Hayden Nash visiting along with our mutual friend Suzanne Thomas who joined the church almost two years ago.  

Former Sister Manwill (Ashley) with her twin sister visited the PPM this month!

It was a delight to visit with former Sister Overa!

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Building Bridges July 2016

 As we make another round of the mission conducting interviews and training at district meetings we are always so grateful to spend time with the Lord's missionaries in the PPM. 

President Johnson advises the missionaries to incorporate the principle of return and report into their lives daily in companionships, with leaders and especially with their Heavenly Father each night.  He also instructs them about striving to become a quality individual.  This was the council given to us by Elder Marvin J. Ashton when we were married almost 38 years ago.  It is sound advice and truly leads one to utilize the atonement daily and to keep the gospel simple as we teach!

Sister Johnson leads a discussion on bridge building!

The bridges of Pittsburgh play an important role in the city's transportation system. Without bridges, the Pittsburgh region would be a series of fragmented valleys and isolated communities. 

There are approximately 446 bridges around Pittsburgh and it is known as the city of bridges.  The bridges are made of steel.  Steel is used widely around the world for construction of bridges because it is a very strong and sustainable.  Steel is made from iron ore a natural resource.  It is heated to extremely high temperature in refiners fires and then it becomes pliable.  

In life we are constantly being given the chance to go through the refiners fire and become pliable instruments in the Lords hands! It isn't quite the same type of furnace - but if we are will humble ourselves during challenging times, the Lord can shape us into far more than we can even imagine!  As we learn to trust in Him we can even have peace and joy during those trials.

We are called to become the bridges for those who are sitting on the banks not knowing how to move forward across those currents of their lives.  We invite and help them come unto Christ who is the true bridge we must use if we are to reach our Heavenly Home.

ALTOONA DISTRICT
Front:  Elders La-Fon, Johnson and Richens
Back:  Elders Hansen, Kap, Zubeck, President and Sister Johnson

WHEELING DISTRICT
Front:  Sisters Durrant, Roberts and McDonald
Back:  President Johnson, Hughes, Rawles, Mills and Garduno

WASHINGTON DISTRICT
Front:  Sister Johnson, Elders Woll and Hatch
Back:  President Johnson, Elders Calaway and Hummer

FRANKLIN DISTRICT
Front:  Sisters Hansen, Schofield, Wall and Blake
Back:  Elder Ross, President Johnson and Elder Boyes

PHILIPSBURG DISTRICT
Front:  Sisters Smith, Campbell, Maya and Simonsen
Back:  Elder Curtis, President Johnson and Elder Mueller

ERIE DISTRICT
Front:  Elder Walker, Sisters Durfee and Yorgason and Elder Wilson
Back:  President Johnson, Elder Schofield and Elder Bell

We sang this wonderful hymn out of an old hymnal.

JAMESTOWN DISTRICT
Front:  Elder Elliot, Wilt and Story
Back:  Elders Saylor, Syndergaard, Kotter, President Johnson, Elders Davidson and Gull

STATE COLLEGE DISTRICT
Front:  Elders Smith, Haroldsen and Van Leeuwen 
Back:  Elders Parke, Williamson, Taylor, President and Sister Johnson

WHAT?

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
Front:  Elder Robertson, President Johnson and Elder Hinckley
Back:  Sisters Bowden, Ewell, Wadsworth and Wentzel

GREENSBURG DISTRICT
Elders McGee, Loreto, Sisters Taunima, McDonald, Penrod and Stimpson with President Johnson

FREEPORT DISTRICT
Sisters Palmer, Johnson and Wilson
Elders Rayburn, Beal, Averett, President Johnson, Elders Bates, Moon and Chafin

PITTSBURGH DISTRICT
Elders Baumgarner, White, Pres. and Sister Johnson, Elders Furniss, Cooper, Elder and Sister Caanan 

OAKLAND DISTRICT
FRONT:  Elders Whitby, Butikofer and Baker
Back:  Elders Nelson, President Johnson, Elders Ekins, Hansen and Elder and Sister Gardner

MCKEESPORT DISTRICT
Sisters Belnap, Simpson, Johnson and President Johnson
Elders English, Bramwell, O'Keefe and Bryant

JOHNSTOWN DISTRICT
Elders Segon, Montgomery, President Johnson, Elders Draper, Christensen and Wilkins

TOWANDA DISTRICT
Front:  Elders Holdaway, Millis, Halls and Spencer
President And Sister Johnson, Sister and Elder Samuelson 

WILLIAMSPORT DISTRICT
Sisters Thompson, Faamaile, Elder Goeckeritz, Sisters Roberts, Morrison, Elder Swisher and Pres. Johnson

LEWISBURG DISTRICT
Sisters Ewing-Di-Bari, Birch, Farnes and Thorson
President Johnson, Elders Selfridge, Smedley, Aitken and Holbrook

HARRISBURG DISTRICT
Front:  Elders Renteria and Ibarra
Back:  Elders Gardiner, Herzog, Pres. and Sister Johnson, Elders Devey and Rogowski 

HERSHEY DISTRICT
Front:  Elders Andrade and Camp
Sisters DeMille, Allen, Pres. and Sister Johnson, Sisters Manumaluena and Pena

CAMP HILL DISTRICT
Sisters Kelly, Roden, Johnson, Kwasney and Paine
Elders Wilson, Pirzadeh, President Johnson, Elders Cahoon and Cuthbert 

CRANBERRY DISTRICT
Sisters Johnson, Smith, Johnson, Nelson, Johnson and Elder Adams
Elders Walker, Coburn, Pres. Johnson, Elders Miller and Holman(has a band aide on his eyebrow)

BEAVER DISTRICT
Sisters Morgan, Bartlett, Johnson, Crisp and Hegewald 
Elders Masina, Cook, President Johnson, Elders Ramos and Foster